The Harrison Daily Times reports that Ragland will serve as sheriff through Dec. 31, 2014, and will be barred from running for re-election.

Ragland is a retired Arkansas Game and Fish officer.

Last week, the quorum court approved a resolution declaring a vacancy in the office.

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled last month that Cassell was ineligible to serve because of a 30-year-old misdemeanor conviction for possessing stolen Cornish hens.

Jonesboro man drowns near Gulf Shores

JONESBORO (AP) - An Arkansas man is among four people who drowned in dangerous rip currents off the Alabama coast this week.

Officials say William H. Moore of Jonesboro died Monday when he tried swimming to a woman who was having trouble staying afloat near the Gulf State Pier.

Baldwin County Coroner Stanley Vinson says another person was able to pull the woman safely to shore.

Moore's body was found floating in the water about an hour later.

Three others from Kansas, Kentucky and Louisiana drowned in a two-day period.

Gulf Shores closed the beaches Monday to the public but reopened them Tuesday with yellow-flag conditions, meaning that moderate surf and currents are present.

23 indicted in western Ark. for drug trafficking

FORT SMITH (AP) - Federal and state authorities say 23 people have been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges in western Arkansas.

US Attorney Conner Eldridge in Fort Smith announced the indictments Tuesday with officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security; Sebastian County Sheriff's Office; and police departments in Fort Smith and Van Buren.

Officials say at least 19 of the 23 are in custody. Fifteen of the 23 are from Arkansas, four from Oklahoma, two from Los Angeles and the hometowns of two suspects are unknown.

The charges include conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and use of a cell phone to conspire to distribute methamphetamine.

Judge sets October trial for ex-UCA administrator

CONWAY (AP) - A judge has set an October trial date for a former University of Central Arkansas administrator charged with commercial burglary.

Gillean is next due in court Oct. 4 for a pretrial hearing. His trial was moved from Faulkner County to Van Buren County because of pretrial publicity.

Prosecutors accuse Gillean of giving a master key to a student so the student could steal tests from professors' offices. Gillean has pleaded not guilty.

LR ex-officer in court for manslaughter case

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - A former Little Rock police officer won't be able to present evidence at trial about the criminal record of the teenager he fatally shot.

Josh Hastings is charged with manslaughter for the death of 15-year-old Bobby Moore. Jury selection is to start Monday.

Hastings has said he fired at Moore because he thought the teenager was trying to run him over. But prosecutors allege that evidence from the shooting scene contradicts that claim.

At Tuesday's hearing, Circuit Court Judge Wendell Griffen ruled that Hastings couldn't present evidence alleging that Moore had marijuana and a gun in the car at the time of the shooting. Hastings' attorney, Bill James, says that information could show Hastings had reason to believe Moore was trying to run him over.

Hastings has pleaded not guilty.

Oaklawn Park plans 58,000-square-foot expansion

Oaklawn General Manager Eric Jackson says the plan is separate from the racetrack's previous expansion, which was completed in May 2009. Jackson tells the Sentinel-Record that Oaklawn has seen "organic growth" since the state legalized electronic gambling machines at racetracks in Hot Springs and West Memphis.

If the planning commission approves the site plan, work could begin next May.

The park initially planned to begin the expansion this year, but Jackson says a proposed constitutional amendment last year made it difficult for Oaklawn to move forward. The proposal, which was unsuccessful, would have given another business exclusive rights to operate casinos in the state.

ASU-Newport chancellor announces retirement

NEWPORT (AP) - The first chancellor of Arkansas State University-Newport is stepping down.

Larry Williams says he will retire Aug. 31 after 12 years of service. He's served as the only chancellor in the school's history.

The two-year college has campuses in Newport, Jonesboro and Marked Tree. ASU System President Charles Welch says the search for Williams' successor begins immediately, and the school hopes to have a replacement hired by Sept. 1.

During Williams' tenure, enrollment climbed from 500 students in 2001 to 2,160 students this spring. The campus also embarked on several capital projects under Williams' leadership, including a $3 million transportation technology center and a $3.2 million student community center.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

State Briefs

The Searcy County Quorum Court has picked an acting sheriff to oversee the county after the Arkansas Supreme Court found that Sheriff Kenny Cassell was ineligible to serve.